Railway, Road Infrastructure Thriving in North East, Says Centre
As of 1 April 2023, a total of 19 railway infrastructure projects in the North Eastern states, covering a substantial length of 1909 km and amounting to Rs. 81,941 crore, are at various stages of planning, approval, and execution. Out of these, 482 km has already been commissioned, with an expenditure of Rs. 37,713 crore incurred up to March 2023.
Over the period from 2014 to 2023, the North Eastern Region has witnessed remarkable progress, with 1618 km of railway sections commissioned, including 377 km of new lines, 972 km of gauge conversion, and 269 km of doubling. This averages to an impressive 179.78 km per year, marking a substantial 170 per cent increase compared to the average annual commissioning during 2009-2014, which stood at 66.6 km per year.
The commitment to developing the region's infrastructure is reflected in the increased budget allotment. Between 2009-14, the annual budget outlay was Rs. 2122 crore, which significantly rose to Rs. 6083 crore between 2014-23. For the year 2023-24, a substantial budget of Rs. 10,269 crore has been allocated.
On the road infrastructure front, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has developed a robust National Highway Network of 4950 km in the North Eastern Region over the last nine years (2014-2023), involving an expenditure of Rs. 41,459 crore.
Additionally, under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) and North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS), 77 road projects have been sanctioned, amounting to Rs. 3372.58 crore.
The NESIDS, with a total approved outlay of Rs. 8139.50 crore from 2022-23 to 2025-26, encompasses various components, including NESIDS (Roads) and NESIDS (Other than road infrastructure). For the year 2023-24, Rs. 2491.00 crore has been allocated under NESIDS-Road and NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure (OTRI). The schemes under the North East Council (NEC) have an approved outlay of Rs. 3202.70 crore for the period from 2022-23 to 2025-26, catering to the development of deprived areas, iconic projects, and state-specific priorities.
The benefits of these infrastructure projects are manifold, including enhanced integration of the North East with the rest of the country, faster movement of essential goods and agricultural products, increased employment opportunities, socio-economic development, tourism industry growth, and a boost in industrial activities, ultimately contributing to the overall economic development of the North Eastern States.
Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy provided this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the government's commitment to fostering connectivity and development in the North East.
